Fan frame with  diversion structure

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an improved fan frame with a diversion structure. A cooling fan includes a rotor, and fan blades spaced around the rotor at intervals. The fan frame positions the rotor and defines a diversion loop, which corresponds to the air outlet direction when fan blades are turning and has an expanding diversion surface. The fan frame has a diversion surface with diversion ribs spaced at intervals, the placement of the diversion ribs being in a vortex pattern without passing through the hypothetical point of the rotor center. The airflow generated by turning fan blades is guided by the diversion ribs and converted to outlet airflow in axial direction corresponding to the rotor, effectively reducing impact and friction of the gyrate airflow generated by fan blades against the frame diversion surface, lowering the noise level, making air exhaustion smoother, and improving the cooling efficiency of fan.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a fan, and more particularlyto a fan which has an improved frame with a diversion structure.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

Among the structures of a cooling fan, besides fan blades, rotor, andstator, the fan frame is important. The fan frame can position said fanblades, rotor, and stator, and can perform a diversion function.

The conventional fan frame structure of a cooling fan comprises an innerwall which surrounds the outer circumference of the fan blades, so thatthe vortex airflow generated by the fan blades during rotation is guidedso that the airflow is axial to the outflow (or inflow) air from thecorresponding rotor. During the operating process, the airflow incontact with the inner wall of the frame generates high noise becausethe path direction changes rapidly, when the vortex airflow generated byfan blades impact the inner wall of the frame. The number of heat sinksinstalled in the computer case is increasing to place greater demands oncooling. Thus, if a single heat sink generates loud noise, the operationof multiple heat sinks would make even more noise. It has a negativeimpact on the quality of computer equipment. Also, “low noise” is animportant condition considered by consumers when purchasing computerequipment.

Furthermore, with the prior art frame of the cooling fan, when thevortex airflow generated by turning fan blades impacts the inner wall ofthe frame, recirculation of air may occur, leading to uneven airdischarge and cooling inefficiency.

Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it wouldbe an advancement if the art to provide an improved structure that cansignificantly improve the efficacy.

To this end, the inventor has provided the present invention ofpracticability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years ofexperience in the production, development and design of relatedproducts.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There are improvements in efficiency by the present invention. The fanframe with a diversion structure disclosed in the present inventionprovides innovation with diversion ribs 23 spaced on the diversionsurface 22 at intervals, so that the airflow generated by turning fanblades is guided by the diversion ribs 23 on the diversion surface 22and converted to outlet airflow in an axial direction corresponding tothe rotor 10. Thus, the impact and friction of the gyrating airflowgenerated by fan blades against the frame diversion surface iseffectively reduced, lowering the noise level, making air exhaustionsmoother, and improving cooling efficiency of the fan.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the cooling fan structure of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows a partial isolated enlarged perspective view of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 shows an elevation view of the cooling fan structure of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 shows a partial sectional view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows another partial isolated elevation view of the embodimentof the diversion ribs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The features and the advantages of the present invention will be morereadily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present inventionwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the preferred embodiment of the fanframe with a diversion structure are shown. Such embodiments are fordescriptive purposes only, while the patent application is notrestricted to such structures. The cooling fan is comprised of a rotor10, fan blades 11 spaced around the rotor 10 at intervals, and a frame20 to position the rotor 10. The frame 20 defines a diversion loop 21,which corresponds to the air outlet direction when fan blades 11 areturning. The frame 20 also has an expanding diversion surface 22.

The diversion surface 22 has diversion ribs 23 spaced at intervals. Thediversion surface 22 can be an inclined plane. When the diversion ribs23 are placed on the diversion surface 22, the side views of the ribs 23appear to be triangular.

The placement of diversion ribs 23, as shown in FIG. 3, is a vortexdesign with the hypothetical extension line L at the center of the ribnot passing through the hypothetical point C of the rotor 10 center.

The diversion ribs 23 can be straight and flat (as shown in FIGS. 1-3),or arched and curved, as diversion ribs 23B shown in FIG. 5.

Based on the above structure, the present invention applies to adisclosed fan A, as shown in FIG. 4. The rotor 10 rotates and drives thefan blades 11 to generate airflow W1, which comes in contact with thediversion loop 21 of the frame 20. The diversion ribs 23 on thediversion surface 22 guide the gyrating airflow W1 toward an axialdirection corresponding to the rotor 10 (the line direction pointed byL2 in FIG. 4), and conversion to outlet airflow W2.

1. An improved diversion structure of fan frame, said cooling fancomprises, a rotor, fan blades spaced around the rotor at intervals, anda frame to position the rotor; of which, the frame defines a diversionloop, which corresponds to the air outlet direction when fan blades areturning and has an expanding diversion surface; the feature of thisinvention is: the diversion surface has diversion ribs spaced atintervals.
 2. The improved structure defined in claim 1, wherein saiddiversion surface can be an inclined plane.
 3. The improved structuredefined in claim 1, wherein the placement of said diversion ribs is avortex design with the hypothetical extension line at the center of therib not passing through the hypothetical point of the rotor center. 4.The improved structure defined in claim 1, wherein said diversion ribscan be straight and flat or arched and curved.